State Standards LS4- Humans are similar to other species in many ways and are unique among Earth's forms.
LS4 (5-8) Using data provided, select evidence that supports the concept that genetic information is passed on from both parents to offspring.
LS4 (7-8)-11 Students demonstrate an understanding of human heredity by 11a- recognizing that characteristics of an organism result from inherited traits of one or more genes from the parents and others results from interactions with the environment.
What does this mean?
The student needs to understand the difference between genes and traits. To understand inheritance, the concept of meiosis must be covered and the idea of passing traits on to offspring. The students must be able to distinguish between traits that are inherited compared to genetic diseases and other how they happen.
What do they need to know?
The students need to have a grasp on mitosis before the meiosis process if covered. This is because the process of meiosis takes place right after mitosis. They need to know characteristic that are being observed and the fact that the inheritance that is being studied can be applied to all living things.
What are the common misconceptions?
A common misconception when it comes to inheritance is that the offspring inherits a mixture of their parent’s traits. For example, if the father has brown hair and the mother has blond hair, they might expect the offspring to have light brown hair. They might not be familiar with the ideas of dominant and recessive genes. Another common misconception is that one parent contribute genes for some characteristics, while the other features come from the other parent. Instead of a combination of genes making up a trait, they might think that one parent is responsible for each trait. They might also think that boys get their traits from their dad and girls get their mom. 11b- tracing a genetic characteristic through a given pedigree to demonstrate the passage of traits.
What does this mean?
The student will apply what they will learn about inheritance and be able to apply it to a pedigree, where they can see the passing of traits through a family tree. This involves using real data and examples to observe proof of the passing of genetic traits.
What do they need to know?
The students need to have an idea about how genes are passed through generations. They need to know what they will be looking for in a pedigree and how to read one as well as apply one to their own lives.
What are the common misconceptions?
Some common misconceptions of the passing of genetic characteristic might be that the offspring will inherit any genetic disease that the parents have. The idea of a trait skipping a generation, or an offspring being a carrier of a disease might be completely new knowledge for the students.
11c- identifying that genetic material (i.e. chromosomes and genes) is located in the cell's nucleus.
What does this mean?
The students need to know where all of this takes place. They will have seen the chromosomes and they will investigate the passing of traits through a pedigree, but they need to know where and how this all takes place in the body.
What do they need to know?
They need to be able to recognize and apply the terms chromosome, genes, traits, alleles, etc. They will know the purpose and application of each term, and they will be learning how this all takes place in the body.
What are common misconceptions?
Students will have an abstract idea about how traits are passed. They might think that the chromosomes are in the cell, but they might not be able to explain that everything is taking place in the nucleus. Students are not aware that there are several genes on one chromosomes and that chromosomes in sex cells are not paired, but single chromosomes that will pair with the other sex cell.
State Standards
LS4- Humans are similar to other species in many ways and are unique among Earth's forms.
LS4 (5-8) Using data provided, select evidence that supports the concept that genetic information is passed on from both parents to offspring.
LS4 (7-8)-11 Students demonstrate an understanding of human heredity by
11a- recognizing that characteristics of an organism result from inherited traits of one or more genes from the parents and others results from interactions with the environment.
What does this mean?
The student needs to understand the difference between genes and traits. To understand inheritance, the concept of meiosis must be covered and the idea of passing traits on to offspring. The students must be able to distinguish between traits that are inherited compared to genetic diseases and other how they happen.
What do they need to know?
The students need to have a grasp on mitosis before the meiosis process if covered. This is because the process of meiosis takes place right after mitosis. They need to know characteristic that are being observed and the fact that the inheritance that is being studied can be applied to all living things.
What are the common misconceptions?
A common misconception when it comes to inheritance is that the offspring inherits a mixture of their parent’s traits. For example, if the father has brown hair and the mother has blond hair, they might expect the offspring to have light brown hair. They might not be familiar with the ideas of dominant and recessive genes. Another common misconception is that one parent contribute genes for some characteristics, while the other features come from the other parent. Instead of a combination of genes making up a trait, they might think that one parent is responsible for each trait. They might also think that boys get their traits from their dad and girls get their mom.
11b- tracing a genetic characteristic through a given pedigree to demonstrate the passage of traits.
What does this mean?
The student will apply what they will learn about inheritance and be able to apply it to a pedigree, where they can see the passing of traits through a family tree. This involves using real data and examples to observe proof of the passing of genetic traits.
What do they need to know?
The students need to have an idea about how genes are passed through generations. They need to know what they will be looking for in a pedigree and how to read one as well as apply one to their own lives.
What are the common misconceptions?
Some common misconceptions of the passing of genetic characteristic might be that the offspring will inherit any genetic disease that the parents have. The idea of a trait skipping a generation, or an offspring being a carrier of a disease might be completely new knowledge for the students.
11c- identifying that genetic material (i.e. chromosomes and genes) is located in the cell's nucleus.
What does this mean?
The students need to know where all of this takes place. They will have seen the chromosomes and they will investigate the passing of traits through a pedigree, but they need to know where and how this all takes place in the body.
What do they need to know?
They need to be able to recognize and apply the terms chromosome, genes, traits, alleles, etc. They will know the purpose and application of each term, and they will be learning how this all takes place in the body.
What are common misconceptions?
Students will have an abstract idea about how traits are passed. They might think that the chromosomes are in the cell, but they might not be able to explain that everything is taking place in the nucleus. Students are not aware that there are several genes on one chromosomes and that chromosomes in sex cells are not paired, but single chromosomes that will pair with the other sex cell.